This game has long since ended, but I'm watching at home for the first time and happy to say that I've managed for the second day in a row to have no knowledge of the result whatsoever. A difficult task but I've survived.
Minute 7 - An innocuous looking pass slips behind all the Germans and Villa gets there first but shoots right at Neuer. Does Germany want the ball? They've barely had it for thirty seconds so far.
9 - "still at the sparring stage of this semifinal". Martin Tyler's excellence is still striking, deep into the tournament. Let's hope he gets the final and we don't have to listen to Harkes.
11 - Alonso nearly had the assist of the tournament trying to split the center backs for Villa there. Just missed, Iniesta nearly cleaned up the scraps with some quick footwork.
13 - What a chance for Puyol. Driven cross from Iniesta was perfect, diving header from the well-coiffed defender flew over the top.
15 - Pique needlessly gave up a corner, and Casillas barely flapped at it. Germany got a second and his punch was more decisive that time around. Germany's first real attack.
25 - Pedro played a ball to Villa in the box. He was well defended but his movement so far has looked as sharp as usual. Good runs from him. Germany haven't really come into the game yet.
30 - I liked Alonso's strike from distance there. A good effort. You've got to try.
31 - Did Schweinsteiger always play such a holding role? Admittedly I've been tuned out, but didn't he used to be more of an attacking mid?
32 - ooh, a blast from Trochowski just tipped wide by Casillas. Spain look kinda shaky defending set pieces, but otherwise they've been well organized.
44 - game gotten a little chippy but on the whole its been very well played, very clean, not a lot of gamesmanship. Thank goodness.
45 - Some quick moves in the box from Pedro but he can't quite lose his defenders. Should've just ripped it. Kinda typical Spain there.
45 - whoa whoa should that have been a penalty? The ref was on the spot. Lets see the replay. A busy last minute - a Spain counter attack and a rip from Pedro, right at Neuer who held on. Halftime.
SECOND HALF
53 - Villa fired a lame side footed shot just wide. Best real chance for him so far.
57 - Amazing work from Spain. A couple shots fired in and Iniesta gets to the goal line and laid it across but no one could reach it.
59 - Oh Pedro with a grass cutter to the right corner and just wide. Spain are on top of them now.
60 - Pique cuts out a good low cross, the end of a sharp counter from Germany. They attacked quickly there. A cross finally materializes and Klose volleys over, awkwardly. Still a half chance and not a bad one. The game opening up a little.
61 - Trochowski off for Toni Kroos ("another of the kids in the squad").
62 - What a run by Ramos and what a ball from Alonso, just a few inches too far. Podolski tracked him pretty well too.
63 - What's with the turf? It looks thick, clumpy, and soft. Not ideal for a World Cup semifinal.
67 - Mertesacker has defended very well. No crosses are getting by the lanky central defender.
69 - Terrific move, maybe the game's best chance. Podolski lobs to the back post, Kroos the sub volleys with his side foot and Casillas saves. He kind of scuffed it and it wasn't too difficult for the Spanish keeper, but he should've done better. Kroos back on the ball for a FK but its cleared.
73 - GOAL. Puyol. Who would've thought? Xavi's corner was inch perfect and Puyol flew in like only he can and smashed it into the net. A great run and a smashing finish. A deserved one-nil lead. An interesting last 15. Let's see what happens. Don't count out the Germans. Course you already know what happened because this is three hours later.
90 - FINAL. 1-0 Spain. Sorry, got overwhelmed with the game and couldn't comment. A very good, very tactical game. In the end, Germany perhaps didn't play as well tactically against Spain as other, less talented teams. You have to think its partially because of their talent -- that they thought they could play their game and not have to 'park the bus' -- that Spain could impose. No one is going to out-possess Spain.
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